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Chege, M. W., Hashim, N. O., Merenga, A. S., Meisenberg, O., & Tschiersch, J. (2015). Estimation of annual effective dose due to radon and thoron concentrations in mud dwellings of Mrima Hill, Kenya. Radiation protection dosimetry, 167(1-3), 139-142.

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Article

Lung Cancer Risk Assessment due to Radon and Thoron Exposure in Dwellings in Ortum, Kenya

1Kenyatta University, Physics Department, P. O. Box 43844-00100, Nairobi, Kenya

2National Commission for Science Technology and Innovation, P. O. Box 30623-00100, Nairobi

3Karatina University, School of Pure and Applied Sciences, P.O. Box 1957-10101, Karatina, Kenya

4Kenya Methodist University, Nairobi Campus, KEMU Building P.O BOX 45240-00100


Journal of Environment Pollution and Human Health. 2021, Vol. 9 No. 2, 64-70
DOI: 10.12691/jephh-9-2-5
Copyright © 2021 Science and Education Publishing

Cite this paper:
F. Omonya Wanjala, N. O. Hashim, D. Otwoma, J. Kebwaro, M. Chege, C. Nyambura, Atieno Carmen. Lung Cancer Risk Assessment due to Radon and Thoron Exposure in Dwellings in Ortum, Kenya. Journal of Environment Pollution and Human Health. 2021; 9(2):64-70. doi: 10.12691/jephh-9-2-5.

Correspondence to: F.  Omonya Wanjala, Kenyatta University, Physics Department, P. O. Box 43844-00100, Nairobi, Kenya. Email: feliwanjala@yahoo.com

Abstract

Radon and thoron gases are produced by radioactive decay of soil and rocks containing uranium and thorium. Radon and thoron in dwellings constructed using soil and rocks rich in uranium and thorium are considered as a major causes of lung cancer especially for nonsmokers. Despite the dangers that these gases can cause to human health, extensive mapping of concentration of radon and thoron gases in Kenyan dwellings has not been done. This phenomenon leaves a large population at risk of exposure to these gases especially in rural areas where good ventilation is not considered in most of the housing design. In this study, indoor radon and thoron exposure were measured in 7 dwellings chosen using purposive sampling method in Ortum, West Pokot county, Kenya. The radon and thoron concentration in mud houses was determined using a passive radon and thoron discriminative detector (RADUET). The detectors were placed in mud houses at a height of about 2 meters above the ground for 3 months (103 days). The concentrations of radon and thoron were calculated and found to range from 16 ± 6 to 72 ±13 and 18 ±11 to 110 ±30 respectively. The average radon and thoron concentration were found to be 40 ± 19 Bq/m3 and 54 ± 30 Bq/m3 respectively, which is below the International Commission on Radiological Protection (ICRP) recommended lower and upper limit of 100 Bq/m3 and 300 Bq/m3 respectively. The annual effective dose was found to be 1.03 mSv/y for radon and 0.30 mSv/y for thoron which is within the 1.3 mSv average global annual effective dose due to radon, thoron and its progeny.

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